Machine for fibering metals.



PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

A. L. COLE.

MACHINE FOR FIBERING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

A. L. COLE.

MACHINE FOR FIBERING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

MW RCA. ar"

Qiihi mv Patented December 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. COLE, OF AUBURNDALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

- MACHINE FOR FIBERING METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,786, dated December1, 1903.

Application filed August 18, 1902.

Serial No. 119,989. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. COLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Auburndale, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Fiber-ing Metals, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines'for fibering metals inwhich a rotary grooved wheel operates in conjunction with a receptaclefor molten metal; and the objects of my invention are, first, to providemeans for delivering molten metal upon a rotary wheel, and, second, toconvert the metal into filaments or fibers. I attain these objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-'Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine, and Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout both views.

In my machine the wheel A is journaled in the two supporting-standard :1a a, the axle a of said wheel'A being lengthened on one side to hold thebelt-pulley a which is intended for the belt aF,by means of which thewheel A is rotated. Any other suitable means may be employed for thepurpose of rotating said wheel A. The periphery a of A is flat, and inthe center is a groove (1 semicircular in cross section. Other groovesof different forms of cross-section may be added to the wheel for thepurpose of securing difierent forms of fibers and filaments.

The framework B of the machine consists of the table I), with itssupporting-standards biand b and the base-board b, which holds theentire structure. The standard b extends above the table I), and in itsupper face is set the round standard'or shaft b. Upon b is the bar I)",having one end bored to receive the standard I) and having in the rear athumb-screw b for the purpose of fastening or securing in position thebar I)", which can be raised or lowered on the standard b. Thehorizontal bar 12 supports, a sliding .ook b", which also has a thumb-nrew b to secure the hook in any desired position and to prevent itfrom sliding back or forth on the bar I)". On the hook I) is hung themelting-receptacle C, which holds the liquid metal. By

this arrangement of the sliding bar I) and sliding hook b the receptacle0 can be held in any position desired either by raising or lowering orswinging the bar I) or moving the sliding hook I) on the bar. Thereceptacle 0 is provided with a nozzle 0 in one side slightly above thebottom, which may be opened or closed by means of the small cock c'andthe flow of molten metal from the receptacle 0 thereby regu-- lated andcontrolled. Under the receptacleG isa Bunsen gas-burner D, which is usedfor the purpose of melting the metal and keeping it in liquid form; butany suitable heating means may be employed for this purpose. Thereceptacle 0 is when 'l'ii'use so placed that the nozzle 0 is turnedagainst the periphery of the wheel A, the end being almost in contactwith the wheel A at about three-quarters height of the wheel. Just belowthe point of the wheel nearest to the nozzle 0 is a gas burner or jet E,which is turned against the nozzle 0 for the purpose of keeping itheated, and thus prevents a cooling of the metal as it flows through thenozzle onto the wheel. I have found. it necessary in order to get thebest results to have the wheel A hot, and for this purpose I provide theburner F underneath the wheel. These three burners are connected withthe gas-main m by necessary tubing d, e, andf.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The metal to be fibered isplaced in the receptacle C and the burner D lighted. When the metal hasbeen thoroughly melted and is in a liquid state, it is then prepared forfibering. The gas-jets E and F are lighted and the nozzle 0 and wheel Aare heated, the latter being slowly rotated and allowed to becomethoroughly heated before being used. The wheel A is always turned sothat its ascending side is toward the kettle C, and when it has beensuificiently heated so that the metal will not stick to it the smallcook a is opened and the liquid metal allowed to flow out. As the thinstream of metal strikes the rapidly-ascending side of the wheel A it iscarried up in the groove 0. and after reaching the top is thrown fromthe wheel by the centrifugal force, and cooling in the air it comes downas a long round thin metallic fiberor filament.

By adjusting the flow of metal through the nozzle 0 by'means of the cock0' and regulating the speed of the wheel A the metal fiber can be madein any size from that of fine hair to that of a common string. The shapeand size of the fiber will depend to some extent upon the shape and sizeof the groove or grooves on the wheel, and the wheel may be made broador narrow and may contain a number of grooves of varying shape and size.By means of a wide shallow groove the fibers will take the form of athin ribbon and the form of the fiber can be varied to suit the purposefor which it is to be used.

Obviously my invention may be embodied in many difierent forms withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and I desire to claim my invention inthe broadest manner legally possible. p

What I claim is-- 1. In a machine for forming a continuous metal fiberor filament, the combination of a rotary wheel provided with a groove ofthe size of such fiber or filament and a melting tank provided withmeans for regulating the flow of the metal in quantities necessary toform said fiber or filament. 2. In a machine for making a continuousmetal fiber or filament, the combination of a rotary wheel provided witha groove of the size of such fiber or filament; a melting-tank providedwith means for regulating the flow of the metal in quantities necessaryto form said fiber or filament and means for adj usting said tank inrelation to said wheel.

3. In a machine for formingmetal fibers or filaments, the combination ofa rotary wheel provided with a groove of the size of such fiber orfilament and a melting-tank having a nozzle provided with a cock adaptedto regulate the flow of the metal inquantities necessary to form saidfiber or filament and means for adjusting said tank in relation to saidwheel.

4. In a machine for fibering metals, the combination of means forforming a continuous string or filament of metal includinga rotary wheelprovided with a groove of the size of such string or filament and ameltingtank having a nozzle provided with a cock adapted to regulate theflow of the metal in quantities suificient to form said fiber orfilament with means for adjustingthe nozzle of said tank in closeproximity to said wheel, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for fibering metals, the combination of means forforming acontinuone string orfilament of metalincluding a 1'0- tatingwheel provided with a groove of the size of such string or filament anda meltingtank having a nozzle provided with a cock adapted to regulatethe flow of the metal in quantities necessary to form said fiber orfilament together with means for adjusting the nozzle of said tank inclose proximity to said wheel and means forheating said wheel, tank andnozzle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT L. COLE. Witnesses:

A. L. Honcnon, M. 'E. COVENLY.

